My spouse & I bought e-bikes several years ago and they have become a vital part of our mobility, both for getting around town and for extended trips. Here are some key reasons they have worked for us. We hope it is inspiring for you to get one, too.
Reason #1: E-bikes are great for errands
With an ample basket on the back, built-in front and rear lights, and a bit of assist to get us up the hills, we find that we are biking far more than we used to. With a load of groceries or several library books in the basket, the e-bike’s motor provides a welcome boost. More often than not, for errands or meetings around town, our cars now stay in the garage.
Reason #2: We feel safer on an e-bike
Another important factor in our decision to take a bike rather than a car is safety. The dedicated and protected bike lanes that the City of Cupertino has installed in the last decade have made our rides much safer, particularly the lanes along McClellan Road and the Regnart Creek Trail. With an e-bike, I can more quickly move past a freeway interchange such as at Foothill & 280, or through an intersection when the light turns green. The recent installation of bike sensors at many intersections also means I don’t have to wait for a car to trigger the light.
Reason #3: E-bikes are great for being active everyday
We have found our e-bikes a good choice for recreation and exercise. Locally, we enjoy biking a loop starting at our home in the Monta Vista neighborhood up to Foothill Boulevard, along Stevens Creek Reservoir, up Mount Eden Road (with an occasional stop at the Cooper Garrod Winery), along Pierce Road, then on residential streets back to our home near Kennedy Middle School. The Stevens Creek Trail to Shoreline Park in Mountain View is another fun ride with plenty of good refreshment and dining stops on the way. And downtown Los Altos or Los Gatos are perfect destinations. We’ve taken all these rides more frequently with our e-bikes.
Reason #4: E-bikes make ‘tough’ rides more enjoyable
To go further afield, we bought a hitch-mounted bike rack for our car that can handle the weight of both e-bikes. Rides that would have previously been a struggle for us on regular bikes are now a joy in such places as the Marin Headlands, the Presidio, Monterey and the Lake Tahoe area. On our bikes, we are more aware of the environment around us and can easily stop to appreciate what we find.
I use a foldable E Bike whenever possible as a car replacement. For the places I usually go, there are safe cycling corridors in most cases, except Stevens Creek, which has to be used for some businesses for short distances. The mapping apps help me find the safest rout. Using bike friendly routing, the EBike is just as quick as a car, can carry quite a bit, costs much less and has health benefits. My bike is not a throttle bike, so, I have to pedal, that reinforces the health benefits. I am careful to not go over a safe speed for the situation, which is possible on some Ebikes. Biking and walking are a huge solution to pollution, physical and mental well being, and economics.